French and Riviera News Monday 12th February 2018

French Riviera local news

Local

Body found in the Var - The body of a forty year old man has been found on the banks of the Var River. Police reported that a biker had made the discovery on the RM6202 in the village of Utelle on Sunday afternoon. The cause of death remains unknown.

Bank Robbery - Jacques Cassandri is to go on trial today in Marseille accused of money laundering following the famous bank robbery which took place in Nice more than forty years ago. On July 18th 1976, 46 million francs was stolen from the vault of the Societe Generale. The theives fled through a purpose built underground tunnel leaving a note saying “No gunshot, No violence, No hate”. At the time, only one person was sentenced and none of the money was found. The court believes that 74 year old Cassandri has since used the money, creating several successful businesses. While he admits his part in the robbery he argues that he only kept 2 million.

Oldest woman in France - The oldest woman in France has celebrated her 114th birthday. Lucile Radon was born in Alés on February 11th 1904 now living in Toulon she celebrated on Sunday with friends and family.

San Remo Music Festival - Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro have received an award at the San Remo Music Festival for their song about the Nice terror attack. The Italian Festival came to a close on Saturday night, the song entitled “Non mi avete fatto niente” or “you did nothing to me”, in English evokes terror attacks from around the world including Nice with the message that “life must continue following these misfortunes”. The duo will now go on to represent Italy in the Eurovision song contest on the 12th May in Lisbon.

National

Mother sentenced for death of her five year old daughter - An appeal court in central France has sentenced Cécile Bourgeon and her ex-partner to 20 years in jail for the murder of her five year old daughter, Fiona, whose disappearance shocked the country in 2013. An all-woman jury found the pair guilty of the murder on Sunday. In May 2013 Bourgeon, appealed for help in finding her daughter, saying she had disappeared from a park, but four months later she and Makhlouf, 36, admitted they had buried her in a forest, claiming she had died in an accident at home.

Homeless - French Ministers have sparked uproar after claiming that as few as fifty people were sleeping rough in the streets of Paris this winter. Paris is to follow the city of New York's example and send 1,500 voluntary workers out to establish how many homeless there really are in the French capital. Athens, London, Brussels and Barcelona have all staged similar exercises. But city officials say the French government does not seem keen on the idea.

Study - A recent study has shown that French students are not good at mathematics. Following the findings the report will be handed to the Minister of Education today it claims that the way the subject is taught needs to be improved with better teacher training for primary school teachers.

Business

Asian markets have started the week with relative calm today although bond investors are still concerned about the risks from upcoming US inflation data.
The MSCI index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan has risen by 0.8 percent this morning after slumping by 7.3 percent last week.
Markets in South Korea and China both rose by 0.8 percent while S&P futures were up by 0.5 percent.
Investors will be watching closely for US consumer price data which is released on Wednesday.
Fears over rising inflation and its effect on interest rates is thought to have triggered the recent slide in stocks.
Forecasts are for consumer price inflation to slow a little to 1.9 percent for January while core inflation is expected to slow slightly to 1.7 percent.

An enquiry has started in Australia into banking malpractices by the countries banks and financial services industry.
The Australian Royal Commission will investigate allegations that banks have exploited customers and have been guilty of corporate fraud.
The enquiry will examine misleading and deceptive behaviour in the industry and conduct which “fell below community standards and expectations.
The focus is expected to be on major lenders which have been accused of putting profits ahead of customers.
The enquiry has the power to examine documents and compel witnesses to appear before hearings and is expected to last for several months.

And-Emirates has signed a deal to buy as many as 36 Airbus aircraft worth at least 16 billion dollars at current list prices.
The deal is crucial to the future of the world’s largest passenger jet-the A380 and was first provisionally announced in mid January.
Airbus had previously said that it would have to end production of the A380 if it failed to secure the Emirates deal.

Sport

Rugby Union-Scotland beat France 32-26 at Murrayfield on Sunday to get their 6 Nations campaign off the ground in a tense contest in freezing conditions.
France led at the break thanks to two tries by Thomas but tries from Maitland and Jones and the boot of Greg Laidlaw gave the Scots the edge and the points.
On Saturday Ireland thrashed Italy in Dublin and England beat a resilient Wales 12-6 at Twickenham.
There’s now a two week break before the third round of Matches on the 23rd and 24th of February.

Ireland top the table on points difference from England.Both have 9 points with the game between the 2 sides at Twickenham on March the 19th looking increasingly likely to decide the Championship.Wales are third with 6 points with Scotland on 4,France on 2 and Italy bringing up the rear without a single point so far.

Winter Olympics-Germany top the medals table at the Pyeongchang Games after three days of competition.
Germany have 3 gold medals with the Netherlands and USA on two gold medals each.
American teenager Red Gerard won his country’s first gold in the men’s slopestyle event with the Canadian’s Max Parrot and Mark Mcmorris winning silver and gold respectively and Canada has taken gold in the figure skating team event.
Meanwhile,the organisers have been criticised for allowing the women’s slopestyle final to go ahead despite strong winds.
Jamie Anderson of the USA won the gold but the winds caused havoc at the Phoenix Snow Park and critics say that the event should have been postponed.The women’s giant slalom event has been postponed because of the winds.

Football-There were three games in the English Premier League on Sunday.Huddersfield were 4-1 winners over Bournemouth.Newcastle United beat Manchester United 1-0 and Liverpool were 2-0 winners at Southampton.

There’s 1 game tonight.Under pressure Chelsea host bottom of the table West Brom at Stamford Bridge.

In the English Championship on Sunday Aston Villa were 2-0 winners at Birmingham while in the 5th round of the Scottish Cup Rangers thrashed Ayr United 6-1 and Aberdeen beat Dundee United 4-2.

Weather

Starting fine but clouding over with the chance of some rain by mid afternoon.

Moderate north westerly winds and a high of 13 degrees.

Overnight lows of 6 degrees on the coast and -2 degrees inland with a widespread frost.